Will Spring-Loaded TDC Locator Tool Work on a Mopar Small Block?

[Newbomb Turk]

I think what he is doing is measuring before tdc at a point before the crank gets to the piston dwell area. Mark the balancer or degree wheel at that point noting the dial indicator reading. Then continue to rotate in the direction of rotation through piston dwell past tdc and back down to the previous dial indicator reading. Mark the balancer or degree wheel again. Measure half way between your marks and that will be tdc. Another way to skin a cat.

Exactly. It’s not rocket surgery. It’s fast, simple and accurate.

 

[RustyRatRod]

Exactly. It’s not rocket surgery. It’s fast, simple and accurate.

Every single bit of degreeing a camshaft is grammar school geometry. ALL of it. Us old farts have to almost relearn it every time we break out the tools. ......unless you do it every dang day. Getting old ain't for sissies.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

I think what he is doing is measuring before tdc at a point before the crank gets to the piston dwell area. Mark the balancer or degree wheel at that point noting the dial indicator reading. Then continue to rotate in the direction of rotation through piston dwell past tdc and back down to the previous dial indicator reading. Mark the balancer or degree wheel again. Measure half way between your marks and that will be tdc. Another way to skin a cat.

I get it , But this could never be as accurate as a piston stop taking human error into the equaision . Also would you keep on turning clockwise or back up to zero the pointer? Would backing up a couple degrees be faster then turning the crank 360?. And wouldn't turning counter clockwise and returning to your your initial High point be something you would do in reverse be a good measure to double check.

Or just another contradicting statement from the clouds. Its getting old. Well its off the the hospital for the surgery. I'll read the BS when I get home.

 

[92b]

I get it , But this could never be as accurate as a piston stop taking human error into the equaision . Also would you keep on turning clockwise or back up to zero the pointer? Would backing up a couple degrees be faster then turning the crank 360?. And wouldn't turning counter clockwise and returning to your your initial High point be something you would do in reverse be a good measure to double check.

Or just another contradicting statement from the clouds. Its getting old. Well its off the the hospital for the surgery. I'll read the BS when I get home.

I hope your surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery. When you feel up to it PM me.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

I get it , But this could never be as accurate as a piston stop taking human error into the equaision . Also would you keep on turning clockwise or back up to zero the pointer? Would backing up a couple degrees be faster then turning the crank 360?. And wouldn't turning counter clockwise and returning to your your initial High point be something you would do in reverse be a good measure to double check.

Or just another contradicting statement from the clouds. Its getting old. Well its off the the hospital for the surgery. I'll read the BS when I get home.

lol.

 

[Woody500]

The short answer is yes, it works. It's up to you to decide when the plunger isn't moving at TDC, so I'd say it's accurate to within one or two degrees.

(Pro tip: if you put a small balloon over the end of the tool, you'll know when you're on the compression stroke.)

Old race mechanic I know had a whistle for that, an aluminum tube w/ a wedge cut on one side. It connected to cylinder with a hose IIRC. It would confirm you're on compression stroke.